WORLD number one Mark Selby let £44,000 slip through his grasp as he swept into the last 32 of the Betway UK Championship.

The Leicester potter crushed Leeds’ Oliver Lines 6-0 at the York Barbican but spurned the chance to cap his performance with snooker’s perfect frame.

Selby broke down on 97 in the last, missing a black into the left corner with the rest of the balls in relatively straightforward position.

A 147 at the UK this year will bag a £40,000 rolling prize and a £4,000 purse for the tournament’s highest break – assuming the feat is not matched.

The 2012 UK champion, who made snooker’s 100th maximum break at the Fishergate venue two years ago, joked he could have bought his daughter Sofia a “new bike for Christmas”.

“It was there,” he said. “I think I just took my eye off the black. I was in two minds what to play – whether to stun it round and play for the loose red or play on both and I think by the time I hit the black I played neither shot.

“It was definitely on.”

Asked whether he would think about the cash that had gone begging, Selby said: “I am waiting for it to get a bit higher, I think.

“I was in the balls and I was thinking it was a few years ago I did it here again. I thought it would be nice do it again and I probably got a little bit ahead of myself.”

The game’s top ranked player began in imperious fashion with a classy 133 and then merely held Lines at bay in a couple of scrappy ensuing frames.

In truth, he didn’t need to do anymore and Lines looked a picture of frustration as he walked to his dressing room 4-0 down.

Lines had plumbed similar depths before and recovered – having trailed by four in the International Championship qualifiers 14 months previously before producing a stirring fight-back and a 6-4 victory.

Selby snuffed out any possibility of a repeat with a break of 78 on the resumption and almost wrapped up the game in thrilling fashion in the last.

He reflected on his display: “I thought I played quite well overall. I started off great and I finished off well – in-between was a little bit scrappy and Oliver had a couple of chances in the second frame and probably should have won the fourth frame.

“But, other than that, I don’t really think I did very much wrong. Going into the match, I knew I had to start well and put Oliver under pressure. I knew he would be a little bit nervous out there.

“Once he settles I know what kind of player he is. He is definitely one for the future.

“It’s still early days. I am only in the last 32 now and there is still a long way to go but I am happy with my performance and long may it continue.”

Lines, meanwhile, could only look back a series of missed opportunities. He said: “Mark played very well. He closed me out and when I got chances I missed balls and you can’t miss balls against Mark Selby.

“I felt good but I kept missing easy balls and the less said about it the better. If I can sort out the mistakes I will have a good chance next time but I am not happy with that.

“I had a good chance (in the second frame) and missed an easy red and composure let me down. But he played very well, to be fair.”